Learn to recognize compulsive overeating

By DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, February 21, 2006

With obesity becoming one of the largest health problems in our country, and anxiety about being the "correct" size taking hold at a younger age, compulsive overeating has emerged as one of the key ways people get into trouble when trying to reconcile their appetites, emotions and perceived proper sizes. This disorder isn't just a matter of eating larger portions than others eat; it has to do with stuffing yourself until you are just short of bursting, whether you were hungry or not when you started. Pretty scary stuff. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about this worsening problem.

1. Binge-eating disorder is the same thing as bulimia: You eat as much as you possibly can in a short period of time, and then just as quickly vomit it all up.

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True ( ) False ( )

2. If you eat a couple of hamburgers, an ice-cream sundae and two or three pieces of cake, or consume "comfort food" when you are feeling depressed, and are then cheered up a bit, you are almost certainly a binge eater.

True ( ) False ( )

3. People who are compulsive overeaters often find that they withdraw from their social lives in order to devote their time to eating.

True ( ) False ( )

4. Binge eaters rarely feel remorse during or after an episode; they can't wait to do it again.

True ( ) False ( )

5. Most compulsive overeaters prefer a relaxing, quiet atmosphere in which to feast.

True ( ) False ( )

6. There are several different successful strategies for dealing with compulsive overeating.

True ( ) False ( )

ANSWERS:

1. False. One of the major characteristics of compulsive overeating that distinguishes it from bulimia is vomiting. Bulimics try to get rid of the food they have eaten by throwing it up immediately after eating, so their weight won't be affected by the extra food. Overeaters do not.

2. False. A "normal" eater will often take comfort in a brownie or a serving of mashed potatoes when feeling blue or so he will feel warm and cozy on a blustery winter day. That's why certain treats have the name "comfort food." But those who only occasionally eat this way lack the two main characteristics of binge eaters: a feeling of being out of control, and eating until they are physically unable to eat any more. Compulsive overeaters eat for emotional reasons, just like other people do; the difference is, they cannot stop.

3. True. Because overeaters gain much of their pleasure in life from planning what to buy and consuming large quantities of food, they tend to plan their activities around food rather than people. And because they usually are ashamed of what they are doing, they prefer to eat alone or in a secretive manner, which also leads to social isolation.

4. False. Binge eaters usually feel a great deal of remorse and generally suffer from low self-esteem. They wish they had more self-control, or could learn to eat only when they're hungry and not stuff themselves so full that they can't eat any more. They are often in relationships where they are put down or teased about their weight, which just leads to more overeating.

5. False. An overeating binge is often accompanied by a blasting radio or television, or raucous music, which the eater uses to further express the anxiety and chaotic emotions she feels while bingeing. Rather than sitting down to a quiet dinner, she is likely to pace the room, eating as she goes, and may even lose track of her surroundings during the eating episode.

6. True. Luckily, there is more than one approach to compulsive overeating that may be successful. A healthy diet (not dieting), moderate exercise and a way to look at portions and be able to recognize when one is on "empty" or "full" are part of what is necessary in order to leave overeating behind. Anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication might help, as can 12-step support programs, individual behavioral therapy, family counseling and body-image counseling. These are all worth trying in order to address the problem. In the meantime, unfortunately, compulsive overeating followed by ineffective dieting continues to grow. Today, there are more out-of-control overeaters than sufferers of anorexia or bulimia in our weight-obsessed nation.

If you were able to answer four or more of the questions correctly, you have your facts straight on compulsive overeating.